Improvement in post-office stamps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS I. NORTON, OF TROY, NEV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN POST-OFFICE STAMPS. i

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,175, dated April 14, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kno n that I, MARCUS P. NORTON, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New iork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Post-Markin g and Canceling Revenue and Postage-Stamps, &c. 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which drawings make a part of this specification.

Like letters refer to and represent like or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe stamp and letter-frank-canceling device, hereinafter described, for canceling stamps issued by the Post Office, revenue, or other departments with indelible or other ink, bythe means hereinafter set forth. Fig. 2 is a face view showin g the post-markin g stamp ready for use, and the canceling stamp or device made of Wood, cork, rubber, or other and similar material, and therein inserted and more fully described hereinafter. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the center of the various parts of the post-marking and canceling stamp. Fig. 4 shows a marking, rating, or dating and cancelin g device, more fully described hereinafter, and is more especially designed for rating, dating, and canceling revenuestamps. Fig. 5 shows a device to cancel stamps or franks with indelible ink by means of wood, cork, rubber, or similar material for type or blotter, in combination with the post-markin g device, and more fully hereinafter described.

Tte nature of my improvements herein described consists in the employment and combination of a device for canceling postage or other stamps by means of wood, cork, or similar material inserted in a tube or recess therein for the purpose of eft'acing or blotting such stamps with indelible ink.

It also consists in the combination of a canceling device having wood, cork, rubber, or any similar material for the type or blotter therein with any post-marking device, so as to blot, cancel, or eface postage-stamps with in delible ink at the same time and operation of post-marking of letters, packets, Src.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention relates to make and use the same, I will here proceed to describe the construction and operation thereof, which is as follows-to wit:

I construct the post-marking stamp D of any suitable material.

E,1"ig. 3, is the mortise or recess, of suitable dimensions to receive the type for the month, the day of the month, and the year, around which is the name of the place where used, and is the same as the post-marking device described in my Letters Pat-ent bearing date the 16th day of December, 1862, and which is secured to the cross-piece B, in the same manner and by the same means as described and set forth in the said patent, which is also the case with the canceling device C.

I construct the canceling-stamp or device C of any suitable material, of any size required in diameter, and in length to correspond to the post-marking device I).

F, Fig. 3, is the tube or recess in the device O for the purpose of receiving the blotting or canceling device G, Figs. 2 and 5, which device is made of wood, cork, rubber, or similar material, so as to closely it the said tube or recess F, Fig. 3. The face of this device may contain a plan or form for canceling with indelible ink, like that shown at Fig. 2, or it may have any plan or form for that purpose thought best to devise or use. This deviceG may project somewhat below the lower end of the said tube F, as seen at Fig. 5, and may also project below the face of the post-marking or rating device D, Figs. 2 and 3, and it may be driven out of the said tube or recess by means of a pin or bolt operating through the hole a, Figs. 3 and 5, for the purpose of re pairs or to replace it by a new one. The said tube or recess G may be of any size in diameter required, or any depth desired. The said canceling stamp or device C, being thus constructed with cork, rubber, or other elastic substance for type or blotter, will receive and hold on the face thereof ink in quantities sufiicient to blot or cancel the postage-stamp in such a manner as to prevent the possibility of the said postagestamp being cleansed of the cancelingink by any chemical or other process, for the said ink would be so eectually put thereon that any attempts to remove it therefrom would entirely destroy the said postage-stamp, and thereby render the same incapable of a second or reuse. The said cork,

rubber, or other elastic substance, as aforesaid, Will render the said Stamp capable of au easy and rapid use, for, there being a yielding of the same when the blow is given, the operaor will not tire as soon by a constant or continued use ofthe same as though it were 0f solid metal, andthe same will greatly aid in raising the entire stamp from the paper and postage-stamp when the impression shall have been given by the operator. The said blotter or type can be more easily repaired or replaced by a new one at less expense than if made of solid metal. The said cork, rubber, or. other elastic material may extend upward to the 'said cross-bar B, and there be connected to the same by a screw or pin bolt, if desired, which will be the same in effect and in operation. In no case could any fraud be committed by a second or reuse of the government sta-mp or frank.

Havingthus described myinvention and improvements in marking and canceling stamps, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters I Patent ofthe United States of America therelll, 1S-

l. The canceling device (l, with wood, cork, or rubber type or blotter G therein, or any device substantially the same, so as to cancel the postage-stamp with indelible ink, substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. The canceling device G, with wood, cork, or similar material forming the type or blotter G therein,'in combination with the cross-piece B and with the post-marking device D, sub-v stantially as herein described and set forth.

' In testimony whereof I have on this 29th day of December, 1862, hereunto set my hand.

MARCUS P. NORTON. Witnesses:

CHAs. D. KELLUM, URIEL DEXTER. 

